Abstract

A novel route to macrolide aromatic polyketides, having an alkyl-$\beta$-resorcylate skeleton has been developed. A formal synthesis of $(\pm)$-curvularin (1), and $(\pm)$-lasiodiplodin (3) involving the preparation of the seco acid (31) and the acyclic precursor (34) using a one pot Alder–Rickert reaction from 1,3-dimethoxycyclohexa-1,3-diene (7) and the long-chain acetylenic dienophiles (10) and (11) is reported.